Men and women are not equal, and women should prioritize motherhood, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared. He shared these views last Monday at a summit on Women and Law in Istanbul, emphasizing that this aligns with Islam's perspective on women's societal role.
Erdoğan noted that feminists won't grasp this, as they reject motherhood's centrality. As an advocate for equality with years observing workplace and family dynamics in the Netherlands, I find these remarks disheartening—they evoke regressive 'back to basics' thinking. Yet, it's a reminder of our progress here.
Do we truly treat men and women as equals in the Netherlands? Despite strides, men still earn more than women for identical roles in many companies, underscoring persistent gaps rooted in traditional views. This mirrors Erdoğan's stance more than we'd like to admit.
Motherhood beautifully complements a career when fathers actively embrace fatherhood, sharing home duties beyond work excuses. Equal roles mean equal contributions—at the office and home, including women handling chores like taking out the trash.
How do you and your partner split responsibilities? What's your take on equality?
